Helicopter Lifts from Kathmandu Mountain Ridge

Flat noon light washes the wind-cut ridge in a uniform, soft gray glow, eliminating sharp shadows across the rocky terrain. A helicopter dominates the center of the panoramic frame, its skids just clearing the uneven ground as it begins its ascent. Above the aircraft, colorful prayer flags stretch in rigid lines, their fabric pulled taut and vibrating from the strong wind. The early winter season shows in the sparse, brown vegetation clinging to the slopes and the muted tones of the distant peaks. Dust and loose gravel swirl around the landing zone, kicked up by the rotor wash. The machine's white fuselage contrasts with the dull earth, while the flags provide a streak of red, blue, and yellow against the overcast sky. at the edge is a single frayed edge of a blue flag snapping violently in the gale.